Truck drivers strike at Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach continues for fifth day

In this July 8, 2014 file photo, members of the Teamsters Union picket at LBCT in the Port of Long Beach in support of a strike by port truck drivers in Long Beach, Calif. (Photo by Stephen Carr/Torrance Daily Breeze)

Hundreds of truck drivers who haul for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and their supporters continued their days-long strike at truck yards and several port terminals Friday, hoping that three harbor area trucking companies will address what protesters say are low wages and poor working conditions.

“We’re here today because our companies are mistreating us and disrespecting us with unfair labor conditions,” said Elmer Chacon, a Total Transportation Services driver for eight years.

At issue is the trucking firms’ misclassification of drivers as independent contractors instead of employees. Protesters say that allows the companies to sidestep labor laws and deduct fuel, maintenance and other fees from their paychecks.

The trucking companies have denied any mistreatment or unfairness and have maintained that the picketing, legal battles and other actions are attempts by the Teamsters to unionize truck drivers.

Port officials reported minimal impact, with trucks still coming in and going out of the gates, though union organizers tweeted that the Maersk terminal was not accepting trucks from the companies targeted for strikes. A port spokesman could not confirm that detail.

Port truck drivers and their supporters have been picketing businesses and terminals since Monday. On Tuesday, the picketing caused three terminals at the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles to shut down for up to two hours after longshore workers honored the pickets.

In response to the health and safety issues raised at that meeting, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced late Thursday that he is directing the Harbor Commission to investigate the allegations and report back to him. The mayor indicated no timeline for when the commission would report back.

“The Port of Los Angeles is critical to our city and our national economy and we must ensure its operations are not disrupted,” Garcetti said in a statement. “As Mayor, I take allegations regarding worker safety, poor working conditions and unfair labor practices very seriously. ... While this investigation continues, I urge both parties to work with Port executives and the Harbor commission to ensure that this vital economic engine continues to serve this nation.”